Avoiding The 150B Atm Fee

[KhunBENQ]

Should I have mentioned, that the VISA card(s) are actually debit cards (not "real" credit cards) and so the withdrawls from my funds on these accounts are NOT cash advance and do not involve any surcharges by the issuing bank.

With a classical credit card the situation might be different!

[Bender]

Not sure if this helps, but there are no fees for cash withdrawals using a foreign card inside a bank, over the counter.

You will, however, need your passport and 5-10 or 20 minutes or so to do the transaction.

You can also do this at exchange booths (which tend to be quicker) as well as the bank branches in all the big shopping malls which are open longer hours.

Apart from paying no fee, the other advantage is that you can also withdraw larger amounts, whereas ATM’s are usually limited to 10,000 bht a time.

Wrong in fact its vary from bank to bank.

With my foreign credit card it cost me (actually) 240 baht more to take the money from the counter than from the atm.

And you have to add the 150 baht fees from the thai bank and another fees from your own foreign bank(around 3%).

So its more expensive at the counter.

.

[Sayonarax]

Daily Limitations on withdrawals is for security. Most commonly used to prevent card skimmers who gain unauthorized access to your account.

[Jayman]

Should I have mentioned, that the VISA card(s) are actually debit cards (not "real" credit cards) and so the withdrawls from my funds on these accounts are NOT cash advance and do not involve any surcharges by the issuing bank.

With a classical credit card the situation might be different!

If it's a debit card and not a credit card then it's not a cash advance and you are limited by your home banks daily withdrawal limit AND by the amount that is actually in your account (whichever is smaller). You are NOT advanced any cash and you have NO line of credit. This is irregardless of Visa or Mastercard supporting the card in their network.

[Langsuan Man]

Most foreign banks have two limits on ATM (debit) cards, a cash limit and a usually higher merchandise limit

[Jayman]

Most foreign banks have two limits on ATM (debit) cards, a cash limit and a usually higher merchandise limit

That is very true as well. And I don't see how pulling money from the counter of the bank would be deemed as merchandise.

[eeeya]

superrich exchange website says they accept credit cards and its charged as a purchase. ive not tried this yet.

[KhunBENQ]

So its more expensive at the counter.

.

Good point!

I was not sure where I had seen this before and was hesitating to write about (as it is not my personal experience).

But surely the suggestion "go to the counter" is NOT GOOD, it's a fellacy.

Edited June 19, 2012 by KhunBENQ

[Jayman]

Can someone confirm that bangkok bank not charge the 150 Thb when American express gold credit card is using a friend told me this!

The 150thb is an ATM charge. Are you talking about using an AMEX at a thai ATM? Not even sure you can do that.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

More relevant info here

[ejmath]

I thought i would add my bit to the thread.

The Australian Citibank debit card is fee free to use internationally and has no monthly account keeping fees. There are other banks that offer similar fee free transactions but you normally pay a monthly fee. I've checked the exchange rate after a transaction and it was fair.

I've heard that Citibank and HSBC ATMs in Bangkok don't charge the 150B fee as well. Can anyone vouch for this? I'm in Chiang Mai at the moment and only have the Aeon option but will be visiting Bangkok again soon.

Cheers!

Edited November 18, 2012 by ejmath

[krisb]

I've put in a link back to here for readers of that site to get these excellent tips here.

Still looking for other Charles Schwab like deals where the home bank let you use any ATM with no fees internationally, especially from the UK and down under. Or maybe there just aren't any?

If you use a card thats visa or mastercard theres no international fee if you use the credit option on ATM's. My card is master card debit card issued by the Commonwealth bank Australia but surely they are same throughout different countries.

Therefore getting a 150baht withdrawal fee is ok compared to an international withdrawal fee on top.

Also I can withdraw as much as I want at 1 time, usually 30k baht is as much as I take out I get worried someone might mug me.

Usually the exchange rate is better than a money exchange booth also.

Edited November 18, 2012 by krisb

[pattayadingo]

I love my Halifax Clarity credit card. I use it at exchange booths and pay no fees whatsoever and with an APR of 12.9% that is also good value. After I withdraw money I pay from my Barclays bank via the internet with an immediate pay option so am only charged 1 days interest.

Granted I do get charged the ATM fee if I use an ATM, but why bother when it is so easy to use an FX booth. I have withdrawn 100K Baht recently for a large purchase at the FX booth so no need to use ATM's.

This being a Mastercard credit card the FX rates at the ATM machines ar often 2 Baht lower than the FX booths too, so even more reason to use the booths.

Anyone form the UK who is planning on spending a lot of time here and can get one of these cards either when they go home for a few weeks (like I did earlier this year) or before they come here on holiday could save themselves a few bob.

[hullupullo]

Today KrungThai bank atm, charge was 180baht

[DekDaeng]

Withdrawals at Aeon appear to be charging the 150 baht - checking balance before and after on O/S account, always seems to be 150 Bht +/- a few baht difference, no matter amount of withdrawal.

They don't answer enquiries re this.

Also recent withdrawal at BKKBK was only 50 baht fee.

Edited May 20, 2013 by DekDaeng

[Langsuan Man]

Withdrawals at Aeon appear to be charging the 150 baht - checking balance before and after on O/S account, always seems to be 150 Bht +/- a few baht difference, no matter amount of withdrawal.

They don't answer enquiries re this.

Also recent withdrawal at BKKBK was only 50 baht fee.

The 150 THB fee will be displayed on the terminal to warn you before you get your money. And will show up again on your slip issued by the machine. Others have tried to report that AEON has charged the 150 THB fee and it has never been shown to be correct, they either used an ATM that looked similar to AEON or the charge was from their home bank that issued the card

Bangkok bank will charge you a 50 THB fee, based upon the amount of money you withdraw using a Thai issued ATM card if your are withdrawing out of province. Since Bangkok Bank is a member of the Thai Bankers Association I am sure that they are not going to go against the flow and will charge you 150 THB when a foreign bank ATM card is used

Post a scan of either your slip or online account (obscuring your information) and we will believe you, otherwise, your post is another red herring

[DekDaeng]

Withdrawals at Aeon appear to be charging the 150 baht - checking balance before and after on O/S account, always seems to be 150 Bht +/- a few baht difference, no matter amount of withdrawal.

They don't answer enquiries re this.

Also recent withdrawal at BKKBK was only 50 baht fee.

The 150 THB fee will be displayed on the terminal to warn you before you get your money. And will show up again on your slip issued by the machine. Others have tried to report that AEON has charged the 150 THB fee and it has never been shown to be correct, they either used an ATM that looked similar to AEON or the charge was from their home bank that issued the card

Bangkok bank will charge you a 50 THB fee, based upon the amount of money you withdraw using a Thai issued ATM card if your are withdrawing out of province. Since Bangkok Bank is a member of the Thai Bankers Association I am sure that they are not going to go against the flow and will charge you 150 THB when a foreign bank ATM card is used

Post a scan of either your slip or online account (obscuring your information) and we will believe you, otherwise, your post is another red herring

UTY, TIT.

[Obb]

Hey folks, you can always write to the Financial Consumer Protection
Center at The Bank of Thailand to inquire about Thai banks' collusion on
fees, and other matters such as obfuscation of their ATM forex rates.

I did. Twice. No reply. Not even an acknowledgement.

http://www.bot.or.th...index.aspxw.bot

[Eesat]

The Citibank ATMs in Bangkok charge no fees for foreign debit and credit cards,some people on here claim that they "Get you on the exchange rate",which of course is utter nonsense!
Citibank are one of the biggest Foreign Exchange traders in the world and to suggest that any teeny-weeny Thai bank,including Bangkok Bank would get better rates is just laughable!

[PalMan]

Who cares what they "get", what's important is the rates they "give".

I didn't have that experience with Citibank ATMs when I tried them but it's been a few years now, next time I'm around Sathorn & Naratiwat I'll give it a try, thanks.

[Eesat]

Who cares what they "get", what's important is the rates they "give".

I didn't have that experience with Citibank ATMs when I tried them but it's been a few years now, next time I'm around Sathorn & Naratiwat I'll give it a try, thanks.

Central World,4th floor has one also.

[wooloomooloo]

The Citibank ATMs in Bangkok charge no fees for foreign debit and credit cards,some people on here claim that they "Get you on the exchange rate",which of course is utter nonsense!

Citibank are one of the biggest Foreign Exchange traders in the world and to suggest that any teeny-weeny Thai bank,including Bangkok Bank would get better rates is just laughable!

Can you post any evidence of this, Eesat? I will open a Citibank account if there's a benefit to my finances.

[Eesat]

The Citibank ATMs in Bangkok charge no fees for foreign debit and credit cards,some people on here claim that they "Get you on the exchange rate",which of course is utter nonsense!

Citibank are one of the biggest Foreign Exchange traders in the world and to suggest that any teeny-weeny Thai bank,including Bangkok Bank would get better rates is just laughable!

Can you post any evidence of this, Eesat? I will open a Citibank account if there's a benefit to my finances.

Evidence of what,no ATM fees?Go to Central World with a foreign bank card and make a withdrawal,there will be no fee charged for it!You don't need a Citibank account,any card will do.

I've checked out the exchange rates also and they're way better than any Thai bank by some stretch!

[wooloomooloo]

I've checked out the exchange rates also and they're way better than any Thai bank by some stretch!

Have you got a link to the favourable f/x rates, Eesat.

[MrWorldwide]

The Citibank ATMs in Bangkok charge no fees for foreign debit and credit cards,some people on here claim that they "Get you on the exchange rate",which of course is utter nonsense!

Citibank are one of the biggest Foreign Exchange traders in the world and to suggest that any teeny-weeny Thai bank,including Bangkok Bank would get better rates is just laughable!

Can you post any evidence of this, Eesat? I will open a Citibank account if there's a benefit to my finances.

Evidence of what,no ATM fees?Go to Central World with a foreign bank card and make a withdrawal,there will be no fee charged for it!You don't need a Citibank account,any card will do.

I've checked out the exchange rates also and they're way better than any Thai bank by some stretch!

Instead of just spouting endless claims, how about posting a link to show us what 'some stretch' means ?

1. This is what Thai banks are offering - note that Super Rich is a money exchange : I dont think they operate ATMs, but it would be nice

http://bankexchangerates.daytodaydata.net/default.aspx

2. Citibank Thaland makes it clear that 'their' foreign exchange rates are set by the network providers - mine is MasterCard

http://www.citibank.co.th/en/credit-cards/card-interest-rates-fees.htm

At the time I checked this morning, the difference between the Mastercard rates and that offered by Krung Thai and UOB was about 35 satang : clearly, that would make a difference if you are withdrawing 100K+ baht, but for smaller 'day to day' amounts I wouldn't lie awake over it. I'll amend that - ignoring small difference is one way to lose money in the long term - 35 satang is 35 satang, and I wouldn't ignore it, but I dont see that I need a Citibank card to get the Mastercard rate.

I've used ATMs which give me the choice between the bank's rate and the Mastercard rate, but the numbers on my statement which really annoy me are the fees levied by my Australian bank each and every time I use an ATM overseas. Combine that with the 150 (Stickman is claiming some are now 180) baht fee levied by a Thai bank, and it gets old very quickly.

Edited May 20, 2013 by MrWorldwide

[bkk_mike]

One tip is that if you've got an ATM card from Hong Kong (plus network rather than visa or mastercard), the ATM charge at SCB is only 50 baht.

Ran into problems at Aeon though with my HK visa card as Aeon don't seem to accept my regular ATM card,

Hong Kong uses 6-digit PIN numbers and some Aeon ATMs assume you're finished after 4, so they then say your PIN failed and ask you to enter it again, but again it assumes you're finished after 4 digits. Seems to be manufacturer related - ie. had the problem with their NCR ATMs, but not with their Hitachi ones..

[wooloomooloo]

This is too good to be true - no ATM fees and an f/x rate that blows any teeny-weeny Thai bank out of the water, including Bangkok Bank, is a dream come true.

Eesat is the man. PM me with the finer detail, Eesat, as it's wasted on the rest of the forum.

[MrWorldwide]

This is too good to be true - no ATM fees and an f/x rate that blows any teeny-weeny Thai bank out of the water, including Bangkok Bank, is a dream come true.

Eesat is the man. PM me with the finer detail, Eesat, as it's wasted on the rest of the forum.

OK - no shortage of sarcasm in that post, but I'll bite. The 'f/x rate that blows any Thai bank out of the water' is available to anyone with 'Mastercard' boldly emblazoned on their ATM card, and you can get fee-free withdrawals at any AEON ATM, but let's not deter anyone from Eesat's pro-Citibank marketing push ....

[PalMan]

C'mon guys, let's try to exchange information here, no need to impugn motives here, I don't like the banksters either but they're a necessary evil. . .

The main OP is avoiding the 150B fee - could someone maybe summarize the consensus on that issue, for VISA vs regular ATM cards?

The exchange rate is relevant but a different issue, so let's discuss that separately.

Edited May 21, 2013 by PalMan

[Eesat]

This is too good to be true - no ATM fees and an f/x rate that blows any teeny-weeny Thai bank out of the water, including Bangkok Bank, is a dream come true.

Eesat is the man. PM me with the finer detail, Eesat, as it's wasted on the rest of the forum.

OK - no shortage of sarcasm in that post, but I'll bite. The 'f/x rate that blows any Thai bank out of the water' is available to anyone with 'Mastercard' boldly emblazoned on their ATM card, and you can get fee-free withdrawals at any AEON ATM, but let's not deter anyone from Eesat's pro-Citibank marketing push ....

Not really so much as my pro-Citibank push as your anti-Citibank drive I would say!

So you take Super Rich as an example,a company who specialise in Foreign Exchange transactions and in all probability get much better rates than the piddling Thai banks anyway?Despite that Citibank are still giving a better rate by your own admissions!

Do they have ATMs?Somehow I doubt it as they are looking to process only large transactions and guess what,that's why they get good rates for those transactions.Citigroup used to be the biggest bank in the world and biggest Forex trader also,therefore they will get better rates than both Super Rich and the Mickey Mouse Thai banks by way of volumes of majors traded.

So to sum up,they don't dispense monies by card and are completely irrelevant to the whole point of this thread!

Citibank DO NOT charge a withdrawal fee so are 100% relevant to the crux of the matter,where can I withdraw money from an ATM without incurring the 150 baht charge?

Is everybody clear on this now?